Dorm Design on an (Almost) $0 Budget

It's the eternal dilemma of the college fashionista -- what do you do when you have so much creativity and inspiration, but so little cash? My frequent trips to Pottery Barn and Anthropologie fill me with ideas for dorm rooms and apartments alike, but my tiny budget brings me (sharply) back to reality.

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Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to decorate a dorm room or apartment on a truly tiny budget (e.g. zero dollars). Of course, the added benefit is that, with cheap decor, you won't feel bad when you change your mind and want to redo the entire place (which happens to me about four times a month).

Whether you're a DIY genius or someone like me, who hasn't touched a sewing machine since eighth grade Home Ec class, these tips are bound to get you started decorating. After all, with September just around the corner, we need to save money for things like late-night pizzas, unexpected coffee dates, and fall fashion trends.

Try some of our best budget interior design ideas below, and watch your room transform -- on a dime!

Paint Chips

Paint chips are the quintessential $0 decor solution. Collecting enough to use might feel a little awkward, but take it from me -- it is so worth it!

Every self-respecting hardware store will have racks and racks of these. Simply arm yourself with a large shopping basket and get to collecting!

Some brands even have books of paint chips that will save you the hassle of picking them off the shelves individually. Call ahead to inquire.

Yes, they are for you to take, but make sure to leave some for people who actually want to paint their walls. Pick out a project to do first, and then head to the hardware store. That way, you won't waste as many.

Frames

On my very first trip to the Salvation Army, I wanted to buy every frame in the place and take it home with me. An empty frame is very much like a blank canvas -- it could once have been anything. I've always been attracted to the beauty of frames, and thanks to thrift stores, they can be upcycled into beautiful dorm decor!

How to Get (Cheap) Frames

You can nearly always find a pile of old frames at your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other thrift store. Make sure that the piece is still relatively sturdy, but don't worry if it's an awful color -- you can always paint it.

I wouldn't recommend going to a craft store, because frames can get really pricey there -- I would save the craft store frames for something more permanent, like this incredible mail holder that I'm making next week! However, great and cheap frames can also be found at Hobby Lobby, the sale racks of discount stores, and your local Marshall's or TJMaxx.

Ideas

If you want to paint your frames, go to a hardware store and ask about their "Oops" paint. This is paint that they made a mistake on -- it was probably the wrong color or type for a customer, so they're selling it for next to nothing!

Learn how to mat a frame yourself. This will save you hundreds of dollars, and matting a smaller graphic in a large frame makes a beautiful and tremendous statement!

Use Washi tape (a Japanese type of tape that is decorated with translucent patterns and is strong but removable) to decorate everything from pencil holders to your computer keyboard.

What do you think?

Were our tips helpful? What are your tips for decorating on a $0 budget? Have you tried any of these ideas before? Which is your favorite? Do you have one that we didn't list? Let us know in a comment!